Ex-Rugby Player Probed for Hard-Ball Spying

South Africa - A millionaire Pretoria businessman is at the center of a criminal investigation over the alleged illegal interception of his estranged wife's private e-mails, SMSes and BlackBerry messages, or BBMs.

The hacking was first suspected when Dr Graham Hefer - a former Natal rugby player - filed divorce proceedings against his wife Denise. Court documents in that case seemed to show that Hefer had access to more than 50 BBMs, over a dozen SMSes and at least five e-mails between Denise and others this year.

The case has revealed that the BBM facility, one of the preferred "secure" methods of communication can be hacked with relative ease.

Hefer, 48, the managing director of a Nigeria-based British company, is accused of installing spyware software on 49-year-old Denise's BlackBerry. This type of spyware is readily available.

This is said to have allowed real-time monitoring of her communication and her whereabouts, and for eavesdropping on her private conversations. These included discussions with her lawyer. (more)